OWINGS MILLS, MD. — As the defensive coordinator of the Los Angeles Chargers, Jesse Minter once installed a game plan to stop Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens’ offense. He’s studied all the ways defenses have approached facing the two-time NFL MVP. He understands all of the defensive concepts.Minter, the first-year head coach of the Ravens, believes he has plenty to offer Jackson from a defensive perspective, so he approached the star quarterback Tuesday with a suggestion: how about they meet regularly to speak about defenses, the Ravens’ own and the ones Jackson will see on a weekly basis.“I didn’t think about playing against Coach Jesse. That never hit my mind,” said Jackson, whose Ravens beat the Chargers 30-23 in November of the 2024 season. Jackson had two passing touchdowns and one rushing score in that game and didn’t turn the ball over. “He was talking about just coming in and meeting with him, so I can see defenses, how he calls it and stuff like that. Other defenses, not just his.”Jackson told his new coach that he would take him up on that suggestion.“That’s a good idea, right?” Jackson asked the assembled media Wednesday.Who are the most clutch NFL quarterbacks since 2020?Robert Mays and Derrik KlassenJackson seemed very much in his element Wednesday as the Ravens had their first full-squad practice of training camp at the Under Armour Performance Center. His arrival on the field prompted the customary roar from the 2,000 fans in attendance and the customary shrieks from the kids who flanked the player’s entrance onto the field.Minter’s first training camp practice was relatively short (90 minutes) and uneventful, but Jackson connected with two of his veteran receivers, Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman, for a few completions and also took off on a long run that prompted safety Kyle Hamilton to say later that the quarterback may have gotten even faster at age 29.After one sequence, Jackson took a knee alongside Flowers, Bateman and assistant wide receivers coach Prentice Gill to go over a few plays. It was all part of Jackson’s acknowledgment that he has a sense of urgency heading into Year 9 to not only rebound from last season’s disappointing campaign, but to engineer that postseason run that has eluded the Ravens in recent years.“Each and every year, I’m getting older, not younger,” Jackson said. “Of course, (the sense of urgency) increases. It starts now, training camp.”Jackson turns 30 on Jan. 7, which coincides with the 18th and final week of the NFL regular season. He’s coming off arguably the most disappointing season of his career as he battled injuries throughout and neither he nor the offense was ever able to hit their stride.Perhaps, as a result, Jackson was recently ranked as the league’s 69th-best player in NFL Network’s Top-100 rankings, as voted on by the players.“It is what it is,” Jackson said. “I play football. I don’t care about rankings.”The Ravens have a new coach in Minter who has prioritized building a strong relationship with his quarterback, and a new offensive coordinator in Declan Doyle who Jackson called a “wizard.” One of the reasons owner Steve Bisciotti made a coaching change in January, firing John Harbaugh, was that he believed Jackson would benefit from having a new voice in his ear as he navigates a crucial year that could impact his future in Baltimore.Jackson is signed through 2027, but his salary-cap number rises to $84 million next year, a number that would make it virtually impossible for general manager Eric DeCosta to build a deep roster around his star quarterback. Bisciotti said in January that signing Jackson to a contract extension was an organizational priority, but nearly six months later, there’s no evidence that a new deal for the quarterback is near.As he’s known to do, Jackson shut down contract questions Wednesday, calling it a “private” matter between him and the organization. He was asked a follow-up about negotiations with DeCosta, and Jackson said that he was focused on football.Ravens officials, meanwhile, continue to praise Jackson’s commitment level this offseason and his buy-in to the new coaching staff. It started when Jackson took part in the team’s voluntary offseason workout program, which he hasn’t consistently done in the past.“He’s incredible, again the best player in the league,” Minter said Wednesday. “When he’s out there, and he’s obviously really engaged like he is, he makes everybody on the field better. So, he makes the offense better. He makes the defense better for having to defend that type of player.“All he has to do is be himself. That’s what he’s proven that he is over the course of time. I do think sometimes when you’re trying to learn new things, it really energizes you because you know that there’s a requirement to get where you want to get between now and the game. So, I just appreciate the way he’s gone about his business.”Nnamdi Madubuike activatedThe Ravens defensive lineman took another significant step Wednesday in his quest to come back from a career-threatening neck injury as he was activated from the physically unable to perform list and took part in the early portion of Baltimore’s practice.Madubuike’s work was mostly confined to the warm-up phase, but it was a huge development nonetheless for a player who missed all but two games last year and had neck surgery in April.“He is one of the most talented people at his position in the league,” Hamilton said. “I don’t think it takes a genius to realize that we’ll get better when he is on the field. It allowed for a lot of younger guys to step up and get some much-needed reps going into this year, but we are all hopeful to get him back as soon as possible.”The Ravens are committed to taking it slow with Madubuike, who hadn’t taken part in an NFL practice since early last September. His work will likely be limited to the individual phases of practice for the first part of training camp.“It’s still a process to get ready to play football, and that’s something we’re going to work through over these next couple of weeks,” Minter said. “I think everybody has a good feeling about where he’s at and where it’s headed. But again, those things — there’s a timeline involved, and that could go wherever. So, super exciting to see that dude out there with his jersey on and his helmet. He looks great. He’s been working really hard, and I think there are positive things to come with him.”Calais Campbell sidelinedThe lone player on the active roster who wasn’t on the practice field Wednesday was Campbell, the veteran defensive end. Late last month, Campbell’s 71-year-old mother, Nateal, was found dead in her Atlanta home. Campbell’s 41-year-old brother, Ciarre, was arrested at the scene and charged with murder, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm or knife.Campbell reported for training camp Tuesday, but the Ravens have given the 39-year-old some time to work out and get back in football mode.“Obviously, he dealt with personal tragedy over the summer. From a preparation standpoint, that took up a lot of his time and his mental focus and energy,” Minter said. “Again, we’re here for Calais to get ready at the rate that he can get ready at. This guy — it’s different than a 25-year-old that’s played maybe only a year or two. This guy has so many banked reps of experience of getting himself ready in camp. We’re going to work together with Calais to have a great plan to, again, have him ready for September, December, January, February.”Other camp notes• Veteran wide receiver Chris Moore, who was signed a few days before camp, made his presence known early in camp Wednesday, making two strong catches.• Another recent free-agent acquisition, center Ethan Pocic, practiced but didn’t take extended reps in the full-team segments. He sustained a torn Achilles in December. Minter maintained Wednesday that the starting center battle is a legitimate competition, and others, including Danny Pinter, remain in the mix.• Cornerback Bilhal Kone, who was placed on the PUP list over the weekend as he continues to rehab his surgically repaired knee, worked out on an adjacent field.• Hamilton said he fully expects Malaki Starks, the 2025 first-round pick, to be regarded as the top safety in the NFL before too long.